Milk bottle holder



2 I MCKEEL MILK BOTTLE HOLDER Filed May 25, 1955 A T QPIVEy Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 25,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates particularly to means for receiving and holding a delivered bottle, or delivered bottles, of milk.

It is one object of the present invention to provide means of the character indicated that may be quickly and easily mounted in any convenient location on the premises where the milk is to be delivered, and one that will effectually protect the top of the bottle from contamination by animals, insects and the elements.

It is another object of the invention to provide means of the character indicated that may be closed and automatically locked when one or more bottles of milk are placed therein, but will not automatically lock unless a full bottle of milk or other object of material Weight is placed therein.

It is still another object to provide means of the character indicated provided with cooperating means whereby a safe and accurate record of transactions through the medium of the holder may be kept in the holder itself, and also provided with a safe and protected depository for cash, checks and the like.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide means of the character indicated that will be economical to manufacture, simple in form and construction, strong, durable, and highly efficient in its practical application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a milk bottle holder embodying my invention, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a detail section on line. 2-2 of Figure 1 but with the top lid down and the end door closed.

Figure 3 is an elevation of a portion of the open end of the holder, showing a part of the locking mechanism and its mode of operation.

Figure 4 is a detail section on line 44 of Figure 1 with the door closed.

Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the invention, partly in section and with parts broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, I show at I and 2 the front and back walls of the holder supported in spaced parallel relation to each other by an end wall 3 and by a tray 4 inserted therebetween and adjacent their upper edges at the end remote from end 3. The tray 4 is disposed to lie in a horizontal plane and in the present case is spaced surficiently far from the bottom of the holder to permit a package to be inserted thereunder as well as to permit the passage of the bottle neck and head portion.

1935, Serial No. 23,380

The holder is provided with a lid 5 hinged thereon as at 8 and disposed to extend over and cover the top edges of parts I, 2, and 3 as well as the entire tray 4, when closed. Record sheets as I may be mounted upon the inside of the lid 5 in any suitable manner as by springin 30 S ots formed by straps 8.

The bottom edges of walls I and 2 are turned inwardly toward each other throughout their entire length as shown at 9 and I0, these flanges lying at right angles to said walls and forming an intervening slot II. The slot I I is of sufficient width to permit the insertion of a bottle neck therein with the flange I2 surrounding the mouth of the bottle I3 resting upon the top of the flanges 9 and I0.

The open end of the holder is provided with a closure or door I4 hinged to the back 2 as at I5. This door I4 is provided with a top inwardly projected flange I8 arranged to close over the end of lid 5 when the latter is closed. The door I4 is also provided with an inwardly extending side flange I'I disposed to seat within the front I when the door is closed.

At I8 is shown a plate having substantially the same dimensions as flange 9 and disposed immediately thereover, and hinged thereto as .at I9 through the medium of upstanding ears as 2D. This mounting is such as to bring the back edge of the plate I 8 close to the flange 9, but the plate is normally tilted with its front edge raised as shown in solid lines by means of a spring 2 I.

Mounted on the plate I8 a distance back from its free edge and adjacent the end facing the door is a keeper 22, this keeper being disposed at right angles to the upper surface of the plate and facing its free edge. A look 23 is mounted on the door I4 and is so placed that its bolt will engage the keeper when the door is closed and the keeper set as hereinafter described.

When the holder is not in use it cannot be accidentally locked because the angular position of the plate I8 holds the keeper 22 in such a position that the bolt of the lock cannot engage it. But when the milk is delivered the necks of the bottles are inserted in the slot I I as indicated by the arrow 24, and when released their weight causes the plate I8 to swing down into parallel relationship with the flange 9 thereby moving the keeper 22 into the position indicated in dotted lines at 25. With the milk bottles in place the lid 5 is closed down and the door I4 closed, the bolt of the look now engaging the keeper and effectually locking the door in the closed position. Since the flange I6 overlaps the end of lid 5 the said lid is also locked in a closed position, and since flange l1 passes inside of the front wall I the lock cannot be tampered with.

In the present case the holder is made deep enough to receive other packages as indicated in dotted lines at 26. By pulling the plate [8 down with a finger the lid and door may be locked to protect the contents of tray 4.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5 a separate lock is provided for the lid 5, but this becomes operative only when the door I4 is closed.

In this form I provide a rod or bar 21 slidably mounted in guides 28 on the front I of the holder and near its top edge. This bar carries a prong 29 bent into parallel relation with it and is placed to slide into and out of engagement with a keeper 30 on the lid 5. A collar 31 is mounted on the bar 21 and a spring 32 is inserted between the collar 3| and one of the guides 28, the said spring normally holding the prong out of engagement with the keeper. But the bar 21 is of such a length that it is engaged by the door [4 when closing, the spring is compressed, and the prong forced into engagement with its keeper 3!! thereby locking the lid in a closed position.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but two embodiments of the invention, changes in form, construction, and method of assembly and operation may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising, a casing having an open end and top and having an open ended slot formed in its bottom adapted to receive the neck of a bottle with the top flange of the bottle overlying the sides of the slot, a lid for the top of the casing, a door for the open end of the casing, normally inoperative lid and door locking means, and bottle actuated means for rendering the said locking means operative.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a casing having an opening in the end thereof and a swingable closure for said opening, said casing also having an open ended slot formed in the bottom thereof adapted to receive a bottle neck, a lock associated with the closure, a keeper associated with the casing and disposed 'to be moved into and out of an operative position relative to the lock, and bottle actuated means for moving the keeper into an operative position relative to the lock.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a casing having an opening in the end thereof and a closure for said opening, said casing also having an open ended slot formed in the bottom thereof adapted to receive a bottle neck, cooperat- -ing lock portions associated with the casing and 

